“The difference between misery and happiness depends on what we do with our attention.”

Sharon Salzberg

We often find our minds swept away into negative thought patterns. It doesn’t take long before this spirals out of control, and we are living out every doomsday scenario which has not yet happened.

I have been practising trying to catch myself while in this state and putting on the brakes. There is no point in feeling all that pain in the present which may or may not happen in the future.

What about experiencing the present moment?

What about making the most of what is in front of me right now?

By recognising we have the power to direct our attention, we can attempt to move beyond the misery.

Easier said than done while in the thick of it. 

But surely it’s worth a try.

Reflection

• I don’t have to feed negative thought patterns.
  
• I have the power to choose what I focus on, and this impacts my present experience.